How to Choose a Mushroom Product (And Spot Red Flags)

Let’s be real: most mushroom products are compromised. The market is full of hype, confusion, and sleazy marketing tactics.

That’s why I created this guide—to help you cut through the noise and actually understand what makes a mushroom product legit.

I’ve been a full-time mushroom geek since 2009 and in the international mushroom business since 2016. I also host The Myco Files—a satirical mycology news show—because education should be fun and effective. Needless to say, I've learned a lot about what makes a quality mushroom product.

Now let’s get into the details of how to choose a high-quality mushroom product.

Fungi have two main parts:

• Mycelium: the root-like body of the organism

• Fruiting body: the actual mushroom, aka the reproductive organ

Different parts = different chemistry = different effects.

Many cheap supplements are made from mycelium grown on grain (like oats or brown rice). This is often called “mycelium biomass” or marketed as “full spectrum.”

Here’s the problem:

• Up to 75% starch

• Only ~25% actual mushroom content

• Extraction doesn’t solve this—starch still dominates

• Very low in active compounds

You’re mostly paying for grain powder.

Raw mushroom powder is difficult to digest. The beneficial compounds we are targeting are locked behind chitin cell walls your body can’t easily break down. Learn more about that in my blog on chitin.

That’s where hot water extract and alcohol extraction come in. These processes:

• Crack the cell wall

• Pull out the bioactive compounds you actually want

• Make them available to your body

If your product isn’t extracted, you are getting a fiber product however Chitin has its own benefits.

Some brands brag about “30–70% polysaccharides.” But here’s what they don’t tell you:

• Maltodextrin, a cheap drying agent and filler, also tests as a polysaccharide

• These inflated numbers don’t reflect actual beta glucan content (the good stuff)

If a product doesn’t list beta glucans specifically, skip it.

That “50:1” number? It refers to how much mushroom was reduced to make the extract—not how strong it is (or how potent the original mushrooms were).

• No standard definition

• No guarantee of potency

• Just a big number designed to impress

Focus on verified active compounds, not flashy math.

Here’s your no-fluff shopping list. The best mushroom products are:

✔️ Made from fruiting body extract

✔️ Created with hot water or alcohol extraction 
(or even better: dual extraction)

✔️ Verified to contain beta glucans (not just polysaccharides)

✔️ Free from maltodextrin, starch, and fillers

✔️ Transparent about ingredients and dosages

✔️ Certified organic

✔️ Not hiding behind a “proprietary blend”

✔️ A mushroom product that’s clearly labeled and sourced with integrity

If it doesn’t check these boxes—it’s not worth your money.

After years of watching the industry cut corners, I decided to do things differently.

• I crafted a line of products that checks all of the boxes mentioned above.

• I designed a water-soluble mushroom powder, not a capsule

• I kept it pure—no flavors, no additives, no gimmicks

• I believe in tasting your medicine—your tongue tells your brain what to do

• And most importantly, I built it for results you can feel

Hamilton’s Mushroom Extracts are for people who care what’s in their cup—and what it does to their body.

There’s a lot of smoke and mirrors in the mushroom supplement world. But once you understand the basics—fruiting body extract, hot water extract, and honest labeling—you won’t be fooled again.

Stick with this mushroom supplement guide, and you’ll start seeing through the fluff. Happy hunting.